For decades, Mac lovers have considered themselves relatively safe from cyberattacks. Some might even say Apple computers are virtually immune. While it’s true that Macs used to get attacked less frequently than Windows computers, that’s no longer the case.
The idea that Apple computers are immune to attacks is also false. In fact, Apple has rolled out many zero-day patches over the years for iOS, with the most recent patch coming out in July 2023.
Installing antivirus software and a firewall is no longer enough. However, cybersecurity has become complex enough that the average computer user won’t know what to do on their own.
To combat this issue, many businesses are turning to managed cybersecurity services. Having a team of experts monitoring your network 24/7 puts you ahead of the game by allowing you to mitigate issues before they become a disaster.
Today, everyone needs to be concerned about cybersecurity regardless of their device or operating system. Here are five reasons Macs are susceptible to cyberattacks just like Windows devices.
1. Not all vulnerabilities are viruses
Although Apple’s closed source platform makes it generally more secure, cybersecurity involves more than just protection against ransomware attacks, viruses, worms, and other forms of malware. Sometimes, vulnerabilities are inherent to the device, its operating system, or third-party applications.
For instance, many attacks occur when a user downloads an installation file that executes commands to launch the attack. These executable files must be written for the target operating system, so a less popular OS will have fewer pieces of malware.
However, when the system itself is vulnerable, hackers can access data regardless of the OS as long as you are online. For example, a threat actor might exploit an OS vulnerability to alter kernel states or perform a series of other actions that gradually allow them to gain deeper access into a device, which can lead to a data breach (and more).
2. Cybercriminals make viruses for all operating systems
There is no such thing as an inherently secure device or operating system. All it would take is one application specifically built to attack that device and it would be game over. The reality is that people create viruses for every device and nobody is automatically safe.
On the other hand, some operating systems are less of a target, which means there are fewer viruses and malware created to run on those systems. Regardless, attacks can and do happen to every device.
3. Apple uses third-party servers
The fewer places your data is sent, the more secure it is. When Apple devices send data to a third-party server for processing, like with voice to text, there is a greater risk of that data being intercepted or stolen while on the third-party server. The risk is that personal information might be intercepted and used maliciously.
Apple takes extra steps to ensure your data remains private even when being sent to third-party servers, but there’s no guarantee nothing will ever go wrong. There are many data breaches that never make it to the news that were caused by employee oversight or other mistakes.
There are many reasons Apple devices are generally more secure than Windows, but there’s a difference between data security and cybersecurity. Apple takes data privacy seriously, but that won’t necessarily protect you from cyberattacks. Don’t let your guard down by feeling complacent.
4. Zero-day attacks exist
There will always be zero-day attacks; that’s just the nature of technology. Systems are built by humans, and humans are prone to making mistakes. Many times, these errors don’t come to light until someone discovers a previously unknown vulnerability has been exploited. These are called zero-day attacks because developers have zero days to fix it before it can be exploited.
As discussed previously, Apple has released patches for many zero-day vulnerabilities across all of its devices over the years. As long as this is a possibility, an Apple device can potentially be vulnerable to attack.
5. Human error can cause an attack
It’s not just your device that can get hacked through your OS – every application you have installed is at risk. Other data, like passwords saved in your browser, FTP client, autocomplete, and more, can be harvested with malware like Redline Stealer. This attack even bypasses multi-factor authentication, a cybersecurity feature perceived to be bulletproof. No device is immune to this type of attack.
Protect your Apple devices from cyberattacks
Is Apple more secure than Windows? Yes, generally. However, every device can be hacked under the right circumstances. Regardless of whether you’re a Windows or Mac fan, take cybersecurity seriously.